French en Famille

 

June 25th - July 8th, 2012

Families Sharing France!    
 
Day One – Monday June 25
Arrive at our 4 star Hotel on the Left Bank in Paris, a short walk from street markets, shops, cafes and the Eiffel Tower. Meet in the foyer at 5pm to go to the local market right in our street, where we will shop for supplies to take for a picnic under the Eiffel tower (D)

 

Day Two – Tuesday June 26
Paris, the city of bridges, wide boulevards and stunning gilt architecture is absolutely made for walking. It is relatively flat with wide spectacular vistas everywhere and hidden corners that you never knew existed. This morning after breakfast we will do a walking tour of Paris’s Rive Gauche or right bank and its wonderful sights, smells and sounds and then sit in a quiet niche near the River Seine for lunch together in what was once an old boulangerie. Back to the hotel via some legendary shops and then tonight will be a free night to explore Paris night life, dine in a suggested restaurant or picnic in your hotel (B/L)

Day Three – Wednesday June 27
Today we visit the spot where Paris began; the beautiful Islands of the Seine river and home to Notre Dame Cathedral and La Conciergerie. Then it’s on to the lively historic Latin Quarter to do a guided tour of the Sorbonne University spoken in French before we treat ourselves to an afternoon tea at the famous house of Ladurée. Their many flavoured macaroons and beautiful patisseries are legendary. Tonight Kate will take the students out to see a French film and the parents are free to explore Paris themselves for dinner. (B/afternoon tea/film)

 

Day Four – Thursday June 28
This morning the students shall visit a local primary school to meet the young students, share some gifts with them and play some games and practise their French. This is always a highlight for the young Parisian students as well as the Aussie etudiants.

 

This afternoon we have 2 options depending on availability. We shall take a guided tour of the Sorbonne University if there is availability and if not, we take the metro up the famous area of Montmartre for a sightseeing tour and lunch. Site of the Moulin Rouge, the film Amelie and home to many artists, this bohemian quarter of Paris is a scenic delight of steep streets and captivating views over Paris. This evening we will have dinner in a restaurant used in many films. Renowned as one of Paris’s oldest, it is unchanged since the Belle Epoque era of the 1890’s. (B/D)

 

Day Five – Friday June 29
We will be taking you outside the centre of Paris today to the breathtaking Palace of Versailles – built on the whim of King Louis the 14th in the 17th century. Our tour will be guided by a French speaker and translated by the students or Kate when necessary for non-speakers.

 

You are free to choose your own dinner venue tonight from the selection of suggestions we make for you; your choice to roam as a group, a couple or on your own. (B)

 

Day Six – Saturday June 30
Today this morning we visit the fascinating Catacombs and hear the story of Guillamont – the man who saved Paris. This afternoon we shall all take a memorable barge ride up the Seine. We shall sail past the Louvre and under Paris’s most famous bridges and many of its most renowned sites. (B)

 

Day Seven – Sunday July 1
Our bus will transfer us this morning to Gare de Lyon where we take the TGV (very fast train) down to Avignon in Provence. From here we will transfer to the tiny riverside village of Fontaine de Vaucluse and our lovely hotel (located in a beautiful renovated mill house) where will meet our friendly staff and settle in.  Dinner at a local bistro with the group (B/D)

 

Day Eight – Monday July 2
This morning we visit the dramatic cliff top township of Les Baux, seat of the bloodthirsty medieval Counts of Baux and now owned by the Grimaldi family of Monaco. This afternoon we visit another Roman Unesco World Heritage site – this time the fascinating town of Arles where the Romans built an arena and baths, where the medieval inhabitants built the Romanesque masterpiece of St Trophime, and where Van Gogh went to paint some of his most famous works.

Group Dinner tonight in the village. (B/D)

 

Day Nine – Tuesday July 3.
Today is a treat for the eyes as we visit some of the renowned perched hill villages made famous by Peter Mayle in his book A Year in Provence. We visit the quaint medieval village of Gordes on market day and visit the ancient 12th century Cistercian Abbaye de Senanque. We then go on to the ochre-toned village of Rousillon where every corner holds a scenic delight and then to Lacoste, an artists’ village where the famous designer Pierre Cardin has restored the ancient castle of the Marquis de Sade.

 

Time to speak, learn or practise some French with some of our local friends, before going out to dinner as a group in the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse (B/D)

 

Day Ten – Wednesday July 4
Today we will enjoy a French Cooking class in a nearby local village on market day. The class will be conducted in easy French by our French chef and any translations can be done both by the students and by Kate if necessary (to avoid anyone setting fire to themselves through a misunderstanding!) Parents visit the lovely chic market of St Remy whilst the students prepare and cook their lunch. Then we return to Hotel Le Poete to relax by the pool, walk, read, visit the Source or shop.

 

Free night to explore village and dine at restaurant of your choice (B/L)

 

Day Eleven – Thursday July 5
Today we visit the scenic Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region. This is the famous region where the Avignon popes summered to escape the heat of Avignon in the 14th century. It is home to the famous Côtes du Rhone red wines such as Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. We’ll visit the ancient Pope’s Summer chateau high on the hill that was bombed out by the Germans in reprisals during WW2, explore the village and picnic in the old ruins.

 

In the afternoon we will visit the historic Roman town of Orange and the wonderful Roman Theatre, one of the most intact ruins of its type in the world, which is still used for concerts and performances to this day. This is one of our favourite historic visits as this UNESCO world heritage site is absolutely fascinating (B/D)

 

Day Twelve – Friday July 6
Today is market day in the beautiful village of Lourmarin. Students buy fresh market ingredients for dinner tonight and prepare and present our meal by the water-wheel at the hotel. Free afternoon to explore or rest by the pool (B)

 

Day Thirteen – Saturday July 7
This morning we depart Fontaine de Vaucluse for a visit to the famous medieval walled town of Avignon. See the imposing Papal Palace that dominates the medieval square and wander the cobbled streets past carousels, cafés and fine shops. The wonderful madcap Avignon festival is in full swing and there are lots of highly entertaining sights to see and opportunities to speak French to the locals. Then we bus to Avignon station and take the TGV back to Paris. Arriving late afternoon we will check into our boutique four star hotel right in central Paris before our Farewell Dinner together on our last night where we say goodbye to each other at a bistro not far from our hotel (B/D)

 

Day Fourteen – Sunday July 8
Our tour ends after breakfast when you will be free to visit other sites in Paris, continue your onward journey or return to Australia. (B)

 

Tour Dates:
June 25th – July 8th 2012

 

Tour Price:
$6325 per person twin/double share

For a third person sharing a twin/double room on a rollaway bed, OR making the room a triple room, there will be a reduction of $920.

 

Tour Inclusions:
Accommodation throughout the tour in charming 3 & 4 star hotels, including breakfast each day, all meals as per the itinerary, cooking class, all entries, tours, excursions and films, transport in air conditioned buses with private driver, 2nd class train travel on TGV, full time services of your tour manager/teacher, structured sessions with local French contacts & teachers

 

**Meals that are included will be dinners at local bistros and cafés. Lunches will be picnics or sandwiches. Drinks are not included in the tour price and will need to be paid individually at the time.